SCRANTON, PA – The Lackawanna County Democratic Committee has escalated its legal efforts to stop the special election for a county commissioner, filing a notice of appeal with the Commonwealth Court on Monday. The move comes after a county Court of Common Pleas panel denied their request for an injunction last week.
The special election is being held to fill the two-year unexpired term of former Democratic Commissioner Matt McGloin. The ballot for the position includes Democrat Thom Welby, Republican Chet Merli, and independents Michael Cappellini and Ryan Runco.
According to the county election office, the 4 p.m. deadline for additional candidates to file passed with no other entries. The appeal seeks a last-minute halt to the election, arguing against the process by which these candidates were placed on the ballot.
The Commonwealth Court's decision will determine whether the special election proceeds as planned in November, or if the court will intervene to alter the election process.